Crowd-sourced cloud computing in a multiple resource provider environment

ABSTRACT

A crowd-sourced cloud environment allows for, and benefits from, modes of interaction between among the service providers (including the “resource providers” and the “cloud provider”) and consumers (also referred to herein as “tenants”) that are not practiced in a DC-centric cloud environment—specifically, the use of Internet-based social networking technology and Internet-based online marketplace technology to facilitate resource pooling and interaction between crowd-sourced cloud resource providers, the cloud provider, and crowd-sourced cloud consumers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed technology relates to delivery of computing as a service.In particular, example embodiments relate to resource pooling in acrowd-sourced cloud in a multiple resource provider environment.

BACKGROUND

“Cloud computing” refers to a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services)that may be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal managementeffort or service provider interaction. The cloud computing model ischaracterized by on-demand self-service, broad network access, resourcepooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. Cloud computing servicemodels include software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service(PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Data as a Service (DaaS)and Analytics as a Service (AaaS). Cloud computing deployment modelsinclude public clouds, private clouds, community clouds, and hybridcombinations thereof. The cloud model can allow end users to reducecapital expenditures and burdensome operating costs associated withmaintaining substantial information technology expertise and operatingstaff in house.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a communications and processingarchitecture for a crowd-sourced cloud, in accordance with certainexample embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block flow diagram depicting a method to providecrowd-sourced cloud computing services, in accordance with certainexample embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting a user interface for crowd-sourced cloudcomputing, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting a user interface for crowd-sourced cloudcomputing, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block flow diagram depicting a method to providecrowd-sourced cloud computing services, in accordance with certainexample embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting a user interface for crowd-sourced cloudcomputing, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block flow diagram depicting a method to providecrowd-sourced cloud computing services, in accordance with certainexample embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting a user interface for crowd-sourced cloudcomputing, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block flow diagram depicting a method to providecrowd-sourced cloud computing services, in accordance with certainexample embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting a user interface for crowd-sourced cloudcomputing, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a diagram depicting a computing machine and a module, inaccordance with certain example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

“Social networking services” refers to Internet-based platforms, oftenbuilt as Web 2.0 applications, in which users create profiles that aremaintained by the operator of the social network service. User-generatedcontent, such as posts visible to some or all other users of theplatform, dominates most social networking services. Private messaging,search features, news posted by the social network service operator,along with user-generated content, allow users and groups of users toform and sustain social networks.

“Online marketplace” or “online retailer” or “online shopping” typicallyrefer, interchangeably, to a type of electronic commerce, typically anInternet website, where products and services can be offered by amarketplace operator or third parties, or a combination thereof, in anenvironment established and maintained by the marketplace operator.Typically, the marketplace operator conducts, or at least supervises,transactions between consumers and the offering parties. Offeringparties can register with the online marketplace and sell goods orservices to consumers for a fee paid to the marketplace operator.

Today, many computing workloads run on traditional big data center (DC)environments either offered by public or private cloud providers. TheseDCs are built on dedicated physical facilities that come with highcomplexity, high initial cost, and high setup and maintenance cost.Setting up a DC includes physical facility procurement, legal processesand local authority clearance, purchasing an installing DC resources(for example, computing, racks, storage, network, and cabling),electrical power distribution system setup and maintenance, andsignificant headcount and overhead in hiring a skilled team to managethe infrastructure and other resources.

Crowd-sourced cloud computing introduces a new cloud computingdeployment model involving a cloud provider, multiple cloud resourceproviders, and multiple tenants/consumers. In such a model, computingresources of each of multiple resource providers, such as residentialsubscribers to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), are logicallypartitioned into a resource provider end user partition and a resourceprovider crowd-sourced cloud partition. One or more crowd-sourced cloudagents are installed in each crowd-sourced resource provider partition.Orchestration of the crowd-sourced cloud can proceed in a cloud providercomputing system and in each agent. Orchestration can include:registering (using both the crowd-sourced cloud provider computingsystems and the agents) at least one resource of a resource providerwith the crowd-sourced cloud provider computing system; validating theregistered resources as being available for provisioning to meet servicerequests from crowd-sourced cloud tenants; publishing each registeredservice as available to consumers (potential tenants); receiving arequest for crowd-sourced cloud services by the cloud provider computingsystem; provisioning the requested services; and operating eachprovisioned service.

Typical network architectures may be designed for centralized andstatic, location-specific, client-server (“north-south”) environments.Such networks may be designed for traffic patterns originating from thecorporate network environment and that primarily traverse a corporatenetwork edge. Such an approach may enable service offerings, includingcloud services, from centralized data center (“DC”) locations to remotebranch partner or home locations. While “home” is used for simplicity inthe present disclosure, other entities, such as businesses, schools, anduniversities, could all participate in a crowd-sourced cloud as resourceproviders. These entities can provide computing resources that canprovide computing, network, or storage capacity in a context of space,power, and cooling. For example, as the computing power of vehiclesincreases, vehicles may be able to participate in a crowd-sourced cloudas providers of services and capacity.

Real-time communications and peer-to-peer traffic patterns areincreasingly mobile, and applications are increasingly cloud-based. Thatdesign changes the typical traffic patterns from north-south to morebidirectional “east-west,” and allows a service provider to offer mobileservices from large cloud locations. In 2018, it is expected that up to60% of data may be resident in decentralized computing with thecombination of DC-based data, public clouds, and hybrid clouds.

At the same time, the power of traditional end user environments (south)is exploding. Some estimate that the computing power of the equivalentof a personal computer, such as found in the typical home environment,in 2049 may be equal to all computing power created through 2012.Further, the ability of home environments to offer services and products(south-to-north, south-to-west, and south-to-east traffic) may expand;similarly to how people offer home-generated electrical power to publicutilities. This trend opens the door for a form of computing where theconsumer can share the excess of his home cloud or IT infrastructurewith peers, ISPs, application providers, or third parties. Thiscapability effectively may transform the consumer of goods and servicesinto a “prosumer”—a market resident who owns a home infrastructure andallocates part of it to create a cloud and offer services and productsto peers, ISPs, application providers, or third parties. In someembodiments, it allows customers to become entrepreneurs and de-factoapplication providers and/or crowd-sourced public cloud providers.

The crowd-sourced cloud environment allows for, and benefits from, modesof interaction among the service providers (including the “resourceproviders” and the “cloud provider”) and consumers (also referred toherein as “tenants”) that are not practiced in a DC-centric cloudenvironment—specifically, the use of Internet-based social networkingtechnology and Internet-based online marketplace technology tofacilitate interaction between crowd-sourced cloud resource providers,the cloud provider, and crowd-sourced cloud consumers.

Example System Architectures

In example architectures for the technology, while each server, system,and device shown in the architecture is represented by one instance ofthe server, system, or device, multiple instances of each can be used.Further, while certain aspects of operation of the technology arepresented in examples related to the figures to facilitate enablement ofthe claimed invention, additional features of the technology, alsofacilitating enablement of the claimed invention, are disclosedelsewhere herein.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the architecture 100 includes network computingdevices 110, 120, and 130, each of which may be configured tocommunicate with one another via communications network 99. Networkcomputing device(s) 110 can include one or more crowd-sourced cloudagents 122A, 122B for participation as a provider of computing resourcesin a crowd-sourced cloud. In some embodiments, a user associated with adevice must install an application and/or make a feature selection toobtain the benefits of the technology described herein.

Network 99 includes one or more wired or wireless telecommunicationssystems by which network devices may exchange data. For example, thenetwork 99 may include one or more of a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN), an intranet, an Internet, a storage area network(SAN), a personal area network (PAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN),a wireless local area network (WLAN), a virtual private network (VPN), acellular or other mobile communication network, a BLUETOOTH® wirelesstechnology connection, a near field communication (NFC) connection, anycombination thereof, and any other appropriate architecture or systemthat facilitates the communication of signals, data, and/or messages.Throughout the discussion of example embodiments, it should beunderstood that the terms “data” and “information” are usedinterchangeably herein to refer to text, images, audio, video, or anyother form of information that can exist in a computer-basedenvironment.

Each network device can include a communication module capable oftransmitting and receiving data over the network 99. For example, eachnetwork device can include a server, or a partition of a server, routerVM or container, a portion of a router, a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a television with one or more processorsembedded therein and/or coupled thereto, a smart phone, a handheldcomputer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or any other wired orwireless processor-driven device. In some embodiments, the networkdevice 110 may be a partition on an resource provider's computingresource, the network device 120 may be system operated by an ISP orother crowd-sourced cloud service provider, and the network device 130may be a crowd-sourced cloud tenant system.

Embodiments of the technology disclosed herein allow resource providersto offer services via an online service catalog. The catalog isestablished and maintained by a cloud provider system 120, for example,an online service catalog organized as an online marketplace 124. Whileeach resource provider can specify services to be offered using itsresources 110, in some embodiments, the cloud provider system 120determines services that a resource provider's resources 110 are capableof providing, and subsequently allows the resource provider to choose tooffer one or more such determined services. In some embodiments, thecloud provider system 120 supplements the resource provider's resources110, for example, the cloud provider system 120 can supplement the IaaSresources 110 of a resource provider with a client-facing application, aweb server back end application, and a database application to offerPaaS services to consumer/tenant systems 130 via the marketplace 124.

In some embodiments, a subset of each resource provider's registrationinformation is published in an online resource catalog of providerprofiles, organized, for example, as a social networking platform 125.In some such embodiments, each service catalog entry identifies eachresource provider offering the service through the cloud provider,hyperlinking the resource provider identifier to the correspondingprofile catalog entry.

In some embodiments, the service catalog is searchable by consumerswishing to request crowd-sourced cloud computing services, for example,in ways that an online marketplace 124 is searchable. The onlinemarketplace 124 can be searched in a various ways including, but notlimited to, Boolean search and a hierarchical tree. Search results canbe filtered by various characteristics of the services and resourceproviders identified in the service entry.

Each service selected by a consumer can be provisioned for the consumerby the cloud provider 120 using cloud operations 126. The consumermonitors and controls the purchased services via access through consumersystem 130 to its own profile in the social network 125.

In some embodiments, operating metrics and/or tenant feedback arecollected on the services, for example by the cloud provider system 120and cloud agents 122 via cloud operations 126. In such embodiments, bothservices, and resource providers are rated and ranked based on thecollected operating metrics and/or tenant feedback. In some embodiments,ratings and rankings (or summaries/indications thereof) are displayed inservice catalog entries and profile catalog entries.

In some embodiments, a resource provider indicates an intent to poolresources 110 with the resources 110 of one or more other providers, forexample, indicating such intent in the profile catalog/social network125. In such embodiments, resource providers choosing to pool resources110 use the profile catalog 125 to search for compatible resources 110of other providers, and then pool resources with selected compatibleproviders for supporting service offerings through the cloud provider120 via the marketplace 124. In such embodiments, once pooled, theresource pool itself is profiled in the profile catalog social network125, not to the exclusion of the profile for each pool member.

In some embodiments, changes to the provider catalog 125, changes to theservices catalog 124, and other events of interest to resourceproviders, the cloud provider, and consumers/tenants are communicated tothe various stakeholders, for example via the social networkingapplication 125. In some embodiments, the technology enables selectivesubscription to such communications by each type of stakeholder (cloudprovider, resource provider, and consumer/tenant).

The network connections illustrated are examples and other approachesfor establishing a communications link between the computers and devicescan be used. Additionally, those having ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that the network devicesillustrated in FIG. 1 may have any of several other suitable computersystem configurations. For example, one or both of network device 110and network device 130 can be embodied as a mobile phone or handheldcomputer, and may not include all the components described above.

In example embodiments, the network computing devices and any othercomputing machines associated with the technology presented herein maybe any type of computing machine such as, but not limited to, thosediscussed in more detail with respect to FIG. 11. Furthermore, anyfunctions, applications, or components associated with any of thesecomputing machines, such as those described herein or any others (forexample, scripts, web content, software, firmware, hardware, or modules)associated with the technology presented herein may by any of thecomponents discussed in more detail with respect to FIG. 11. Thecomputing machines discussed herein may communicate with one another, aswell as with other computing machines or communication systems over oneor more networks, such as network 99. The network 99 may include anytype of data or communications network, including any of the networktechnology discussed with respect to FIG. 11.

Example Embodiments

The example embodiments illustrated in the following figures aredescribed hereinafter with respect to the components of the exampleoperating environment and example architecture described elsewhereherein. The example embodiments may also be practiced with other systemsand in other environments.

Referring to FIG. 2, and continuing to refer to FIG. 1 for context, ablock flow diagram depicting a method 200 to provide crowd-sourced cloudcomputing services is shown, in accordance with certain exampleembodiments. In such a method 200, a crowd-sourced cloud provider system120 receives registration requests for participation of resources 110 ofeach resource provider in a crowd-sourced computing cloud—Block 210.Each registration request includes provider characteristics and aspecification of the resources 110. Each resource specification includesresource specification parameters.

Consider, as a continuing example, two crowd-sourced cloud resourceproviders—Provider Adam and Provider Lima. Adam submits providercharacteristics and resource specifications of resource provider system110A to a registration portion 123 of a crowd-sourced cloud providersystem 120. Provider Lima submits provider characteristics and resourcespecifications of resource provider system 110B to the registrationportion 123 of crowd-sourced cloud provider system 120. Table 1 presentsthe provider characteristics and resource specifications for ProviderAdam and Provider Lima. The parameters and values presented in Table 1are examples. Note that each of Provider Adam and Provider Lima hasregistered an intent to participate in pooling of resources 110 as agroup for the purpose of providing services.

TABLE 1 Parameter Provider Adam Provider Lima Address 123 ABC Lane, SanJose, 123 XYZ Tower, San Jose, USA USA Resources 2 CPUs, 1 TFLOPS, 4 GB2 CPUs, 1 TFLOPS, 8 GB RAM, 20 GB storage, RAM, 20 GB storage, 4 Mbps 2Mbps up & down, up & down Servers 2 3 Connectivity 10.1.1.1, 10.1.1.210.2.1.1, 10.2.1.2, 10.2.1.3 Internet ISP #1, router IP address ISP #1,router IP address Service 10.1.1.0 10.2.1.0 Provider Service 50%available processing, 70% available, flexible Level 99% availablestorage, resource allocation policy, dedicated resources add-on resourceflexibility allocation policy per server, no add-on resource flexibilityAllocation Split ratio 1:1 Best effort Add On N/A 20% CPU, 20% RAM,Resource 20% storage Limit Operating Linux, Linux Windows 8, Linux,Linux System Version Payment Credit/debit/bank draft Credit/debit/bankdraft options Group intent Yes Yes IaaS $15/mo. in aggregate $14/mo. inaggregate resource cost

The cloud provider system 120 registration portion 123 registers thespecified resources 110 and provider characteristics of each resourceprovider—Block 220. In the continuing example, such registrationincludes determining the reachability of the resources 110 of eachprovider, deployment of an agent 122 at a host among the provider'ssystem 110, and validating the characteristics of the registeredresources 110 using the deployed agent 122. Co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/203,767, filed Jul. 6, 2016 and titled“Crowd-Sourced Cloud Computing Resource Validation,” describes portionsof example registration and validation processes, and is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The cloud provider system 120 determines at least one crowd-sourcedcloud computing service to be offered based on the registered resources110 of at least one provider—Block 230. In the continuing example, cloudprovider system 120 determines that Adam's resources 110 A aresufficient to provide various IaaS services at the registered levels,for example: a) 2 CPUs operating at 1 TFLOPS with 4 GB RAM and up to 20GB of storage over a 2 Mbps link at 50% availability, and b) up to 20 GBof storage at 90% availability over the 2 Mbps link. Cloud providersystem 120 presents each of these options to Adam via resource providersystem 110A.

In some embodiments, cloud provider system 120 determines the servicesthat can be provided by the registered resources 110 by comparing aregistered provider's resource specification to each of a set ofreference model specifications. Each reference model specificationdescribes the minimum resources necessary to provide the services of thereference model. Upon a resource provider 110 choosing to offer aparticular service, the cloud provider 120 removes the resourcesnecessary to provide the particular service from availability forsupporting other services, and re-determines the services that theprovider's remaining resources 110 are capable of providing.

In the continuing example, given the low demand for 50% availabilitycomputing resources, Adam decides not to offer his computing resourceson his own and decides to contribute most of those resources to a poolto achieve higher availability. Adam does, however, decide to offer 5 GBof 90% availability storage as IaaS, and uses resource provider system110 to communicate this decision to cloud provider system 120. Cloudprovider system 120 re-determines that Adam's remaining resources 110are capable of offering 2 CPUs operating at 1 TFLOPS with 4 GB RAM andup to 15 GB of storage (down 5 GB from the previous determination toaccount for the service that Adam chose to offer on his own) over a 2Mbps link at 50% availability as IaaS. Cloud provider system 120presents this re-determined choice to Adam via resource provider system110. Adam does not select this option.

It is expected that the primary type of cloud service supported byresource provider resources 110 alone will be IaaS. In some embodiments,the cloud provider system 120 can offer to add supplemental resources127 to allow the supplemented resources (110 plus 127) to provide PaaSand SaaS services. In the continuing example, cloud provider system 120can offer to supplement Adam's resources 110 with the supplementalresources 127 {an execution runtime, a web server front end application,a web server back end application, a database, and development tools(all running on Adam's resources 110)} to offer a PaaS web serverservice to a consumer/tenant system 130. In the present example, the 50%availability characteristic of Adam's computing resources 110 limits themarket for such a service, and Adam declines. Adam's contribution of hisremaining resources 110 to a provider pool to support a separate PaaSservice is described elsewhere herein.

The cloud provider system 120 publishes a searchable service catalog ofeach determined crowd-sourced cloud computing service to beoffered—Block 240. Each service catalog entry includes an identifier forat least one provider of the service described in the service catalogentry. Referring to FIG. 3, and continuing to refer to prior figures forcontext, an example service catalog interface 300, in the form of anonline marketplace 124 presented by cloud provider system 120 is shown.In the continuing example, interface 300 includes a search window 302.While the search window 302 of FIG. 3 is shown as a free text searchwindow 302, other search approaches can be used, for example, fullBoolean search, hierarchical search by service characteristics (forexample IaaS, PaaS, SaaS—then under IaaS: storage, compute, connect),and selection from among discrete value choices for different servicecharacteristics. The services marketplace 124 can return resultsresponsive to the search query or selection. In the continuing example,the search query is “Web Server,” and 45 results are returned, withthree results 304 a, 304 b, and 304 c shown on interface 300. Subsequentresults are accessible using page control 305. Each search result 304includes a photo or illustration representing the service and textdescriptive of the service. The text includes a summary or subset of thefull specification of the service.

The descriptive text can include an identifier 306 identifying each ofone or more resource providers, or pool of resource providers, offeringthe service. Each resource provider identifier 306 is hyperlinked (asindicated by underlining in the figure) to a profile of the resourceprovider in the social network 125. Each resource provider identifier306 includes an indication of the rating or ranking of the resourceprovider supporting the service. Selecting the hyperlinked identifier306 will cause the user's computing device 130 to navigate to theprofile page for the resource provider in the social network 125, wheredetails of the rating/ranking are available, along with otherinformation about the resource provider, and the services supported bythe resource provider's resources 110.

The services marketplace 125 can filter the results 304 displayed in theinterface 300. FIG. 3 illustrates five filters 308 a-308 e that can beapplied to the search results 304. Each filter 308 can be applied for aselected filter value by selecting the hyperlinked value in the filterbox 308. For example, the seller filter 308 c can be applied to theresults 304 by selecting one of the hyperlinked seller filter 308 cvalues. For example, if a user selected “Adam's Pool” as a seller filtervalue, the page 300 would refresh, would retain result 304 a (Adam'sPool is an identified provider), while results 304 b and 304 c would bereplaced with entries, if any, for other Web Servers that are based onresources 110 provided by provider Adam's Pool. List extender 309 d,when selected, displays additional filter choices.

In the continuing example, a consumer queries the online servicesmarketplace 124 for “Web Server” services. The online servicesmarketplace returns 45 results, showing three results 304 a, 304 b, and304 c, on the first page 300. Note that while neither registeredprovider Adam nor registered provider Lima is identified on page 300 asproviding resources 100 supporting the services described in the searchresults 304, “Adam's Pool” is identified as a provider with a five starrating for a small web server service in result 304 a. Pooled resourcesare described elsewhere herein.

Referring to FIG. 4, and continuing to refer to prior figures forcontext, a service catalog entry page 400 is shown, in accordance withexample embodiments of the disclosed technology. Selection of either agiven result 304 from search results page 300, or the “fullspecification” hyperlink 307 within a given result 304, causes theuser's computing device to navigate to the service catalog entry page400 corresponding to the result 304. In the continuing example, afterthe user selects either entry 304 b or “full specification” hyperlink307 b, the user's computing device navigates to catalog entry page 400for “Medium Web Server.” Note that the search window 302 remainsunchanged in this example. Text box 404 provides additional detailrelated to the Medium Web Server service, including identifiers 306noting that the service is available from providers “Bob,” “Echo,” and“Delta.” Service catalog entry page 400 includes purchase tools—providerselection tool 405, term selection tool 406, quantity selection tool408, price information 410, and “Add to cart” tool 412. In addition,service catalog entry page 400 presents navigation links—one link 420for returning to the search results page 300, one link 422 fornavigating to the previous result from the search results page 300, andone link 424 for navigating to the next result from the search resultspage 300.

Referring to FIG. 5, and continuing to prior figures for context, ablock flow diagram depicting a method 500 to provide crowd-sourced cloudcomputing services is shown, in accordance with certain exampleembodiments. In such a method 500, Block 210—Block 240 are performed asdisclosed elsewhere herein. In such a method 500, the cloud provider 120publishes, a catalog of provider profiles—Block 550. Each providerprofile is based on the received registration requests. In thecontinuing example, the catalog of provider profiles is organized as asocial network 125 application and is searchable by providercharacteristics, resource specification parameters, and services by theprofiled provider. Referring to FIG. 6, and continuing to refer to priorfigures for context, a catalog of provider profiles entry social networkpage 600 is shown, in accordance with example embodiments of thedisclosed technology, and implemented as part of social network 125. Theprovider identifier 306 in a search result 304 and in a service catalogentry 400 is hyperlinked to the profile catalog entry 600 of theprovider associated with the service described in the search result 304and in a service catalog entry 400.

Page 600 includes a search window 602 similar to the search window ofonline marketplace 124 pages 300 and 400, though in this case a queryentered into search window 602 is applied to profiles in the socialnetwork 125. Page 600 includes an indication of the type of profile 604,in this case a resource “Provider” profile, along with an avatar 606,and a provider identifier 608 including a rating summary hyperlinked toa detailed rating page for the provider. The resources 110 that havebeen registered by the provider are detailed in a resources box 610,while the services offered by the provider using the resources 110 areshown in a separate services box 612, with each service including ahyperlink to a page providing additional technical, performance, review,and administrative data regarding the resource.

Page 600 includes a link 614 to messaging functionality, allowing theprovider to privately exchange messages with one or more other profiledstakeholders (group and consumer pages are described elsewhere herein).Both the profiled provider's membership in one or more resource 110pools and the provider's availability to participate in additionalresource pools is presented in a pool membership box 616. Each poolidentifier is hyperlinked to navigate a user's browser to a profile pagefor the pool. The intent to join new pools is hyperlinked to one or morepages to facilitate resource pool management. Community rating is afeature of some embodiments of crowd-sourced cloud computing. Eachstakeholder can rate encounters with other stakeholders and can rateservices (in particular services consumed by the rater). To that end,each provider social network page includes a link 618 to a page forcollecting both structured and freeform feedback from stakeholders.

A profile timeline includes a posting window 620 and achronologically-arranged timeline of posts 622 a, 622 b, and 622 c. Inthe continuing example, provider Adam had used window 620 to post “FORSALE—Server rack w/exhaust fan; message me if interested” on Jul. 5,2016. That post is visible on page 600 in post window 622 c. A user withprivileges to post on behalf of the Adam's Pool resource pool (profiledin a separate page described elsewhere herein) posted a notification 622b that the Small Web Server service offered by the resource pool Adam'sPool will undergo an operating system (OS) upgrade on Sep. 1, 2016.Adam's personal profile page 600 receives this post as a member ofAdam's Pool. Adam's personal profile page 600 also receives posts fromconsumers of Adam's Pool resources 110, such as post 622 a from TerryTenant who rated Adam's pool as five stars and provided the freeformcomment “Adam's Pool is awesome.”

Referring to FIG. 7, and continuing to prior figures for context, ablock flow diagram depicting a method 700 to provide crowd-sourced cloudcomputing services is shown, in accordance with certain exampleembodiments. In such a method 700, Block 220—Block 240 are performed asdisclosed elsewhere herein for a first provider. In such a method 700,prior to registering providers (Block 220), registration informationincluding an intent to pool resources is received by the cloud providersystem 120—Block 710.

The cloud provider 120, after completing registration (Block 220) anddetermining services to be offered using the registered resources 110(Block 230), publishes a catalog of provider profiles as described withregard to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, including an indication of the intent topool resources 110 for those providers expressing such intent, asdescribed in connection with FIG. 6. The cloud provider 120 receives,from a second registered provider, a request to pool a subset of thesecond provider's registered resources with the subset of the registeredresources of the first provider—Block 760. In the continuing example,after Alan registers his resources 110A, and after Lima registers herresources, Lima browses resource provider profiles, such as Alan'sprofile 600, and decides to pool her resources with Alan's to form apool. Lima selects the “I'm open to pool membership” link in Alan'sprofile box 616. Cloud provider 120 presents a dialog via Lima'sprovider system 110B allowing Lima to indicate which of her resources110B will be pooled with those resources 110 made available for poolingby Alan. In some embodiments, the cloud provider system 120 acceptsconstraints on pooling relationships from providers. In suchembodiments, the system will pool Alan's resources 110A and Lima'sresources 110B subject to such constraints. As an example, geographicregion and common ISP can be constraints on pooling selected by aresource provider or by the cloud provider system 120.

If all applicable constraints are satisfied, the cloud provider 120pools the subset of the second provider's registered resources and thesubset of the registered resources of the first provider—Block 770. Inthe example Provider Adam's Pool can offer services supported by anaggregate set of resources 110 by combining Adam's pooling resources110A (all of Adam's resources minus the 5 GB storage service that Adamoffers separately) and Lima's resources 110B as shown in TABLE 2.Pooling resources includes considering the resources as commonlyavailable to support delivery of one or more cloud computing services.In some embodiments, the cloud provider system 120 maintains aconfiguration database of resources considered “pooled.”

TABLE 2 Parameter Provider Adam's Pool Address San Jose, USA Resources 4CPUs, 2 TFLOPS, 12 GB RAM, 35 GB storage, 2 Mbps up & down, Servers 5Connectivity 10.1.1.1, 10.1.1.2, 10.2.1.1, 10.2.1.2, 10.2.1.3 InternetService ISP #1, router IP addresses Provider 10.1.1.0, 10.2.1.0 ServiceLevel 85% available processing, 99% available storage, flexible resourceallocation policy, add- on resource flexibility Allocation Best effortAdd On Resource 10% CPU, 10% RAM, 10% Limit storage Operating SystemLinux, Linux, Windows 8, Version Linux, Linux Payment optionsCredit/debit/bank draft Group intent Yes IaaS resource cost $29/mo. inaggregate

The cloud provider determines at least one service to be offered basedon the pooled resources, updates the services catalog based on thedetermined services, and updates the catalog of provider profiles with aprofile of the resource pool—Block 780. In the continuing example,subsequent pooling of resources 110 by Adam and Lisa with otherproviders, along with supplemental resources 127 from the cloud providersystem 120, allow Adam's Pool to support several services across IaaS,PaaS, and SaaS service types upon a re-determination (Block 230) of theservices that the pooled resources 110 are capable of supporting. Thecloud provider 120 updates the services marketplace 124 with the newservices supported by Adam's Pool (Block 240) and updates the socialnetwork 125 with a profile of Adam's Pool.

Referring to FIG. 8, and continuing to refer to prior figures forcontext, a pooled provider social network page 800 is shown, inaccordance with example embodiments of the disclosed technology, andimplemented as part of social network 125. Page 800 is similar to page600, but is directed to pooled resources provider Adam's Pool as opposedto being directed to Adam as a single resource provider. Features suchas search window 602, type of profile 604 (in this case a “ProviderPool” profile), an avatar 606, and a provider identifier 608 including arating summary hyperlinked to a detailed rating page for the providerare shown.

The services offered by the pool provider using the resources 110 areshown in a separate services box 612, with each service including ahyperlink to a page providing additional technical, performance, review,and administrative data regarding the resource. In the continuingexample, Adam's Pool used the cloud provider system 120 supplementalservices to offer PaaS services (Python Development Environment, XL WebServer, and Small Web Server) and SaaS services (Word processing), inaddition to offering IaaS service Bulk Datastore.

Page 800 includes a link 614 to messaging functionality, allowing thepool provider to privately exchange messages with one or more otherprofiled stakeholders (group and consumer pages are described elsewhereherein). Community rating is a feature of some embodiments ofcrowd-sourced cloud computing. Each stakeholder can rate encounters withother stakeholders and can rate services (in particular servicesconsumed by the rater). To that end, each pool provider social networkpage 800 includes a link 618 to a page for collecting both structuredand freeform feedback from stakeholders.

A profile timeline includes a posting window 620 and achronologically-arranged timeline of posts 622 a, 622 b, and 622 d. Inthe continuing example, provider Adam's Pool used window 620 to post“ADAM'S POOL adds member Xray and Bulk Data Storage to the 5* fold!” onJul. 5, 2016. That post is visible on page 800 in post window 622 d. Auser with privileges to post on behalf of the Adam's Pool resource pool(profiled in a separate page described elsewhere herein) posted anotification 622 b that the Small Web Server service offered by theresource pool Adam's Pool will undergo an operating system (OS) upgradeon Sep. 1, 2016. The Adam's Pool profile page 800 also receives postsfrom consumers of Adam's Pool resources 110, such as post 622 a fromTerry Tenant who rated Adam's pool as five stars and provided thefreeform comment “Adam's Pool is awesome.”

Referring to FIG. 9, and continuing to prior figures for context, ablock flow diagram depicting a method 900 to provide crowd-sourced cloudcomputing services is shown, in accordance with certain exampleembodiments. In such a method 900, Block 220—Block 240 are performed asdisclosed elsewhere herein, resulting in a service catalog published asan online marketplace 124 by cloud provider 120. In such a method 900,the cloud provider system receives a selection of a published offeredservice—Block 950. In the continuing example, the cloud provider system125 receives Cindy's selection, via tenant system 130, of one 1-yearsubscription to Bob's Medium Web Service via online marketplace 124 page400.

The cloud provider system provisions and operates the selected servicefor the consumer (now a tenant)—Block 960. In some embodiments, thecloud provider system established a profile for the tenant. Referring toFIG. 10, and continuing to refer to prior figures for context, a tenantsocial network page 1000 is shown, in accordance with exampleembodiments of the disclosed technology, and implemented as part ofsocial network 125. Page 1000 is similar to page 600, but is directed toa cloud tenant as opposed to being directed to Adam as a resourceprovider. Features such as search window 602, type of profile 604 (inthis case a “Tenant” profile), an avatar 606, and a tenant identifier608 including a rating summary hyperlinked to a detailed rating page forthe tenant are shown.

The services subscribed to by the tenant using the resources 110 areshown in a separate services box 610, with each service including ahyperlink to a page providing management functions for the tenant (suchas subscription and payment modification, resource add-on requests,troubleshooting, and ratings input for the service), and additionaltechnical and performance data regarding the service. In the continuingexample, Cindy subscribed to both the Medium Web Server servicesupported by resource provider Bob, and the Small Web Server servicesupported by resource provider Adam's Pool. Status indicator 1030 showsthat the Medium Web Server service is currently un-available, whilestatus indicator 1032 shows that the Small Web Server is available. Inthe continuing example, Cindy can select the link for the Medium WebServer service in window 610 to troubleshoot that service.

Page 1000 includes a link 614 to messaging functionality, allowing thepool provider to privately exchange messages with one or more otherprofiled stakeholders (group and consumer pages are described elsewhereherein). Community rating is a feature of some embodiments ofcrowd-sourced cloud computing. Each stakeholder can rate encounters withother stakeholders and can rate services (in particular servicesconsumed by the rater). To that end, each tenant social network page1000 includes a link 618 to a page for collecting both structured andfreeform feedback from stakeholders. In each case of received feedback,the cloud provider system 120 updates the relevant entry in each of theservices marketplace 124 and the social network 125.

A profile timeline includes a posting window 620 and achronologically-arranged timeline of posts 622 e, 622 b, and 622 c. Inthe continuing example, provider Adam's Pool posted on Jul. 5, 2016 thatthe Small Web Server service offered by the resource pool Adam's Poolwill undergo an operating system (OS) upgrade on Sep. 1, 2016. That postis visible on page 800 in post window 622 b because Cindy is asubscriber to the Small Web Server service supported by Adam's Pool.Tenant Cindy's profile page 1000 also receives posts from resourceprovider Adam (to whom Cindy's profile is connected by Cindy's choice ina manner common to social networks), such as post 622 c. Tenant Cindyused posting window 620 to post that she is “Seeking Small BusinessAccounting SaaS.” That post is visible in posting window 622 e. By usinga combination of personal massages, ratings, and postings, eachstakeholder can communicate with other stakeholders.

Other Example Embodiments

FIG. 11 depicts a computing machine 2000 and a module 2050 in accordancewith certain example embodiments. The computing machine 2000 maycorrespond to any of the various computers, servers, mobile devices,embedded systems, or computing systems presented herein. The module 2050may comprise one or more hardware or software elements configured tofacilitate the computing machine 2000 in performing the various methodsand processing functions presented herein. The computing machine 2000may include various internal or attached components, for example, aprocessor 2010, system bus 2020, system memory 2030, storage media 2040,input/output interface 2060, and a network interface 2070 forcommunicating with a network 2080.

The computing machine 2000 may be implemented as a conventional computersystem, an embedded controller, a laptop, a server, a mobile device, asmartphone, a set-top box, a kiosk, a vehicular information system, onemore processors associated with a television, a customized machine, anyother hardware platform, or any combination or multiplicity thereof. Thecomputing machine 2000 may be a distributed system configured tofunction using multiple computing machines interconnected via a datanetwork or bus system.

The processor 2010 may be configured to execute code or instructions toperform the operations and functionality described herein, managerequest flow and address mappings, and to perform calculations andgenerate commands. The processor 2010 may be configured to monitor andcontrol the operation of the components in the computing machine 2000.The processor 2010 may be a general purpose processor, a processor core,a multiprocessor, a reconfigurable processor, a microcontroller, adigital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a controller, astate machine, gated logic, discrete hardware components, any otherprocessing unit, or any combination or multiplicity thereof. Theprocessor 2010 may be a single processing unit, multiple processingunits, a single processing core, multiple processing cores, specialpurpose processing cores, co-processors, or any combination thereof.According to certain embodiments, the processor 2010 along with othercomponents of the computing machine 2000 may be a virtualized computingmachine executing within one or more other computing machines.

The system memory 2030 may include non-volatile memories, for example,read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any other devicecapable of storing program instructions or data with or without appliedpower. The system memory 2030 may also include volatile memories, forexample, random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM),dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and synchronous dynamic randomaccess memory (SDRAM). Other types of RAM also may be used to implementthe system memory 2030. The system memory 2030 may be implemented usinga single memory module or multiple memory modules. While the systemmemory 2030 is depicted as being part of the computing machine 2000, oneskilled in the art will recognize that the system memory 2030 may beseparate from the computing machine 2000 without departing from thescope of the subject technology. It should also be appreciated that thesystem memory 2030 may include, or operate in conjunction with, anon-volatile storage device, for example, the storage media 2040.

The storage media 2040 may include a hard disk, a floppy disk, a compactdisc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), aBlu-ray disc, a magnetic tape, a flash memory, other non-volatile memorydevice, a solid state drive (SSD), any magnetic storage device, anyoptical storage device, any electrical storage device, any semiconductorstorage device, any physical-based storage device, any other datastorage device, or any combination or multiplicity thereof. The storagemedia 2040 may store one or more operating systems, application programsand program modules, for example, module 2050, data, or any otherinformation. The storage media 2040 may be part of, or connected to, thecomputing machine 2000. The storage media 2040 may also be part of oneor more other computing machines that are in communication with thecomputing machine 2000, for example, servers, database servers, cloudstorage, network attached storage, and so forth.

The module 2050 may comprise one or more hardware or software elementsconfigured to facilitate the computing machine 2000 with performing thevarious methods and processing functions presented herein. The module2050 may include one or more sequences of instructions stored assoftware or firmware in association with the system memory 2030, thestorage media 2040, or both. The storage media 2040 may thereforerepresent examples of machine or computer readable media on whichinstructions or code may be stored for execution by the processor 2010.Machine or computer readable media may generally refer to any medium ormedia used to provide instructions to the processor 2010. Such machineor computer readable media associated with the module 2050 may comprisea computer software product. It should be appreciated that a computersoftware product comprising the module 2050 may also be associated withone or more processes or methods for delivering the module 2050 to thecomputing machine 2000 via the network 2080, any signal-bearing medium,or any other communication or delivery technology. The module 2050 mayalso comprise hardware circuits or information for configuring hardwarecircuits, for example, microcode or configuration information for anFPGA or other PLD.

The input/output (I/O) interface 2060 may be configured to couple to oneor more external devices, to receive data from the one or more externaldevices, and to send data to the one or more external devices. Suchexternal devices along with the various internal devices may also beknown as peripheral devices. The I/O interface 2060 may include bothelectrical and physical connections for operably coupling the variousperipheral devices to the computing machine 2000 or the processor 2010.The I/O interface 2060 may be configured to communicate data, addresses,and control signals between the peripheral devices, the computingmachine 2000, or the processor 2010. The I/O interface 2060 may beconfigured to implement any standard interface, for example, smallcomputer system interface (SCSI), serial-attached SCSI (SAS), fiberchannel, peripheral component interconnect (PCI), PCI express (PCIe),serial bus, parallel bus, advanced technology attached (ATA), serial ATA(SATA), universal serial bus (USB), Thunderbolt, FireWire, various videobuses, and the like. The I/O interface 2060 may be configured toimplement only one interface or bus technology. Alternatively, the I/Ointerface 2060 may be configured to implement multiple interfaces or bustechnologies. The I/O interface 2060 may be configured as part of, allof, or to operate in conjunction with, the system bus 2020. The I/Ointerface 2060 may include one or more buffers for bufferingtransmissions between one or more external devices, internal devices,the computing machine 2000, or the processor 2010.

The I/O interface 2060 may couple the computing machine 2000 to variousinput devices including mice, touch-screens, scanners, electronicdigitizers, sensors, receivers, touchpads, trackballs, cameras,microphones, keyboards, any other pointing devices, or any combinationsthereof. The I/O interface 2060 may couple the computing machine 2000 tovarious output devices including video displays, speakers, printers,projectors, tactile feedback devices, automation control, roboticcomponents, actuators, motors, fans, solenoids, valves, pumps,transmitters, signal emitters, lights, and so forth.

The computing machine 2000 may operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections through the network interface 2070 to one or moreother systems or computing machines across the network 2080. The network2080 may include wide area networks (WAN), local area networks (LAN),intranets, the Internet, wireless access networks, wired networks,mobile networks, telephone networks, optical networks, or combinationsthereof. The network 2080 may be packet switched, circuit switched, ofany topology, and may use any communication protocol. Communicationlinks within the network 2080 may involve various digital or analogcommunication media, for example, fiber optic cables, free-space optics,waveguides, electrical conductors, wireless links, antennas,radio-frequency communications, and so forth.

The processor 2010 may be connected to the other elements of thecomputing machine 2000 or the various peripherals discussed hereinthrough the system bus 2020. It should be appreciated that the systembus 2020 may be within the processor 2010, outside the processor 2010,or both. According to certain example embodiments, any of the processor2010, the other elements of the computing machine 2000, or the variousperipherals discussed herein may be integrated into a single device, forexample, a system on chip (SOC), system on package (SOP), or ASICdevice.

Embodiments may comprise a computer program that embodies the functionsdescribed and illustrated herein, wherein the computer program isimplemented in a computer system that comprises instructions stored in amachine-readable medium and a processor that executes the instructions.However, it should be apparent that there could be many different waysof implementing embodiments in computer programming, and the embodimentsshould not be construed as limited to any one set of computer programinstructions. Further, a skilled programmer would be able to write sucha computer program to implement an embodiment of the disclosedembodiments based on the appended flow charts and associated descriptionin the application text. Therefore, disclosure of a particular set ofprogram code instructions is not considered necessary for an adequateunderstanding of how to make and use embodiments. Further, those skilledin the art will appreciate that one or more aspects of embodimentsdescribed herein may be performed by hardware, software, or acombination thereof, as may be embodied in one or more computingsystems. Additionally, any reference to an act being performed by acomputer should not be construed as being performed by a single computeras more than one computer may perform the act.

The example embodiments described herein can be used with computerhardware and software that perform the methods and processing functionsdescribed previously. The systems, methods, and procedures describedherein can be embodied in a programmable computer, computer-executablesoftware, or digital circuitry. The software can be stored oncomputer-readable media. For example, computer-readable media caninclude a floppy disk, RAM, ROM, hard disk, removable media, flashmemory, memory stick, optical media, magneto-optical media, CD-ROM, etc.Digital circuitry can include integrated circuits, gate arrays, buildingblock logic, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), etc.

The example systems, methods, and computer program products describedherein address the challenges associated with cataloging cloud computingresources of a large number of resource providers (both individually andin pools of resources), translating resources into service to be offeredto consumers, offering the services to consumers in an organized fashionamenable to the technical requirements of the consumer's needs,facilitating communication between system stakeholders. Absent such anapproach, the vast reserve of spare computing resources distributedacross non DC-users would not be available to support cloud computingservices.

The example systems, methods, and acts described in the embodimentspresented previously are illustrative, and, in alternative embodiments,certain acts can be performed in a different order, in parallel with oneanother, omitted entirely, and/or combined between different exampleembodiments, and/or certain additional acts can be performed, withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of various embodiments. Accordingly,such alternative embodiments are included in the scope of the followingclaims, which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass such alternate embodiments.

Although specific embodiments have been described above in detail, thedescription is merely for purposes of illustration. It should beappreciated, therefore, that many aspects described above are notintended as required or essential elements unless explicitly statedotherwise.

Modifications of, and equivalent components or acts corresponding to,the disclosed aspects of the example embodiments, in addition to thosedescribed above, can be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art,having the benefit of the present disclosure, without departing from thespirit and scope of embodiments defined in the following claims, thescope of which is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass such modifications and equivalent structures.

We claim:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by one or more computingdevices and for each of a plurality of cloud computing resourceproviders, a registration request for participation of resources of eachrespective provider in a crowd-sourced computing cloud, eachregistration request comprising provider characteristics and aspecification of the resources, each resource specification comprisingresource specification parameters, wherein at least one receivedregistration request comprises data indicating an intent of a firstresource provider to pool a subset of a first resource provider'sresources with resources of one or more other resource providers forparticipation in the crowd-sourced computing cloud; registering, by theone or more computing devices, the specified resources and providercharacteristic of each of the plurality of providers in a database asavailable for supporting cloud computing services; publishing, by theone or more computing devices, a catalog of provider profiles, eachprovider profile based on the received registration requests, thecatalog of provider profiles searchable by provider characteristicsincluding any intent to pool resources, resource specificationparameters, and cloud computing services determined to be offered by theprofiled provider; receiving, by the one or more computing devices froma second registered provider, a request to pool a subset of a secondprovider's registered resources with the subset of the registeredresources of the first provider; and pooling, by the one or morecomputing devices, the subset of the second provider's registeredresources and the subset of the registered resources of the firstprovider to support a common cloud computing service in a crowd-sourcedcomputing cloud; determining, by the one or more computing devices, atleast one crowd-sourced cloud computing service to be offered based onthe pooled registered resources; publishing, by the one or morecomputing devices, a searchable cloud computing service catalogcomprising an entry for each determined crowd-sourced cloud computingservice to be offered, each service catalog entry comprising anidentifier for at least one pooled provider of the cloud computingservice described in the cloud computing service catalog entry;receiving, by the one or more computing devices from a consumer, aselection of a published cloud computing service; provisioning, by theone or more computing devices, the selected cloud computing service; andoperating, by the one or more computing devices and the resources of thecloud computing service, the provisioned cloud computing service.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: publishing, by the one or morecomputing devices, a catalog of provider profiles, each provider profilebased on the received registration requests, the catalog of providerprofiles searchable by provider characteristics, resource specificationparameters, and cloud computing services determined to be offered by theprofiled provider, wherein at least one provider identifier in at leastone service catalog entry is hyperlinked to the profile catalog entry ofthe provider associated with the cloud computing service described inthe at least one service catalog entry.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the provider catalog is organized as a social networkapplication.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicating anintent of the first provider to pool a subset of the first resourceprovider's resources with the resources of one or more other providerscomprises a restriction on the characteristics of the registrationrequest of the other providers.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining at least one cloud computing service to be offeredcomprises: determining, by the one or more computing devices, a set ofcloud computing services that a subset of resources registered by atleast one provider is capable of offering; presenting, by the one ormore computing devices to the at least one provider, an identificationof each cloud computing service in the set of services that the subsetof resources registered by at least one provider is capable of offering;and receiving, by the one or more computing device from the at least oneprovider, a selection of at least one cloud computing service from thepresented identification.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein: operatingcomprises collecting, by the one or more computing devices, operatingmetrics for each provisioned service, and the method further comprising:publishing, by the one or more computing devices, a catalog of providerprofiles, each provider profile based on the received registrationrequests, the catalog of provider profiles searchable by providercharacteristics, resource specification parameters, and cloud computingservices determined to be offered by the profiled provider; andupdating, by the one or more computing devices, each published providerprofile based on the collected operating metrics applicable to cloudcomputing services offered using resources specified in the providerprofile, wherein each service catalog entry comprises one of a link tothe published profile of the provider offering the cloud computingservice and a summary of the collected operating metrics applicable tothe resource provider.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:publishing, by the one or more computing devices, a catalog of providerprofiles, each provider profile based on the received registrationrequests, the catalog of provider profiles searchable by providercharacteristics, resource specification parameters, and cloud computingservices determined to be offered by the profiled provider; receiving,by the one or more computing devices, feedback from a consumer withrespect to a particular cloud computing service; and updating, by theone or more computing devices, each published profile based on thereceived feedback applicable to cloud computing services offered usingcomputing resources specified in the profile.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the determined cloud computing service is one of infrastructureas a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as aservice (SaaS).
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the published servicecatalog is organized as an online marketplace.
 10. Logic encoded on oneor more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:receive, by one or more computing devices and for each of a plurality ofresource providers, a registration request for participation ofresources of each respective provider in a crowd-sourced computingcloud, each registration request comprising provider characteristics anda specification of the resources, each resource specification comprisingresource specification parameters; register, by the one or morecomputing devices, the specified resources and provider characteristicof each of the plurality of providers, wherein registering comprisesvalidating the specification of resources including determining areachability of the specified resources; determine, by the one or morecomputing devices, at least one crowd-sourced cloud computing service tobe offered based on the registered resources of at least one provider;and publish, by one or more computing devices, a searchable servicecatalog comprising an entry for each determined crowd-sourced cloudcomputing service to be offered, each service catalog entry comprisingan identifier for at least one provider of the cloud computing servicedescribed in the service catalog entry.
 11. The logic of claim 10,further encoded on one or more tangible media for execution and whenexecuted operable to: publish, by the one or more computing devices, acatalog of provider profiles, each provider profile based on thereceived registration requests, the catalog of provider profilessearchable by provider characteristics, resource specificationparameters, and cloud computing services determined to be offered by theprofiled provider, wherein at least one provider identifier in at leastone service catalog entry is hyperlinked to the profile catalog entry ofthe provider associated with the cloud computing service described inthe at least one service catalog entry.
 12. The logic of claim 10,wherein the provider catalog is organized as a social networkapplication.
 13. The logic of claim 10, wherein: at least one receivedregistration request comprises data indicating an intent of a firstresource provider to pool a subset of the first resource provider'sresources with resources of one or more other resource providers forparticipation in the crowd-sourced computing cloud; and the logic isfurther encoded on one or more tangible media for execution and whenexecuted operable to: publish, by the one or more computing devices, acatalog of provider profiles, each provider profile based on thereceived registration requests, the catalog of provider profilessearchable by provider characteristics including any intent to poolresources, resource specification parameters, and cloud computingservices determined to be offered by the profiled provider; receive, bythe one or more computing devices from a second registered provider, arequest to pool a subset of the second provider's registered resourceswith the subset of the registered resources of the first provider; andpool, by the one or more computing devices, the subset of the secondprovider's registered resources and the subset of the registeredresources of the first provider to support a common service in acrowd-sourced computing cloud, wherein determining at least onecrowd-sourced cloud computing service to be offered comprisesdetermining at least one crowd-sourced cloud computing service to beoffered based on the pooled resources.
 14. The logic of claim 13,wherein the data indicating an intent of the first provider to pool asubset of the first resource provider's resources with the resources ofone or more other providers comprises a restriction on thecharacteristics of the registration request of the other providers. 15.A system, comprising: a storage device; and a processor communicativelycoupled to the storage device, wherein the processor executesapplication code instructions that are stored in the storage device tocause the system to: receive, for each of a plurality of resourceproviders, a registration request for participation of resources of eachrespective provider in a crowd-sourced computing cloud, eachregistration request comprising provider characteristics and aspecification of the resources, each resource specification comprisingresource specification parameters; register the specified resources andprovider characteristic of each of the plurality of providers, whereinregistering comprises validating the specification of resourcesincluding determining a reachability of the specified resources;determine at least one crowd-sourced cloud computing service to beoffered based on the registered resources of at least one provider; andpublish a searchable service catalog comprising an entry for eachdetermined crowd-sourced cloud computing service to be offered, eachservice catalog entry comprising an identifier for at least one providerof the cloud computing service described in the service catalog entry.16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor further executesapplication code instructions that are stored in the storage device tocause the system to: publish, by the one or more computing devices, acatalog of provider profiles, each provider profile based on thereceived registration requests, the catalog of provider profilessearchable by provider characteristics, resource specificationparameters, and cloud computing services determined to be offered by theprofiled provider, wherein at least one provider identifier in at leastone service catalog entry is hyperlinked to the profile catalog entry ofthe provider associated with the cloud computing service described inthe at least one service catalog entry.
 17. The system of claim 15,wherein the provider catalog is organized as a social networkapplication.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein: at least one receivedregistration request comprises data indicating an intent of a firstresource provider to pool a subset of the first resource provider'sresources with resources of one or more other resource providers forparticipation in the crowd-sourced computing cloud; and the processorfurther executes application code instructions that are stored in thestorage device to cause the system to: publish, by the one or morecomputing devices, a catalog of provider profiles, each provider profilebased on the received registration requests, the catalog of providerprofiles searchable by provider characteristics including any intent topool resources, resource specification parameters, and cloud computingservices determined to be offered by the profiled provider; receive, bythe one or more computing devices from a second registered provider, arequest to pool a subset of the second provider's registered resourceswith the subset of the registered resources of the first provider; andpool, by the one or more computing devices, the subset of the secondprovider's registered resources and the subset of the registeredresources of the first provider to support a common cloud computingservice in a crowd-sourced computing cloud, wherein determining at leastone crowd-sourced cloud computing service to be offered comprisesdetermining at least one crowd-sourced cloud computing service to beoffered based on the pooled resources.